The extreme makeover of NC State’s basketball roster continued Monday with the announcement that Lavar Batts Jr. has been granted his release so that he can pursue a transfer to another school.
Batts, a former four-star prospect who averaged 3.7 points and 1.5 assists in just over 13 minutes per game as a freshman last season, is the fourth player to leave the Wolfpack program since the hiring of coach Kevin Keatts — joining center Omer Yurtseven, Darius Hicks and Sean Kirk as transfers. State could also potentially lose forward Torin Dorn if he decides to stay in the NBA Draft.
A 6-foot-3 combo guard from Concord, Batts originally committed to VCU, but he decided to sign with State after coach Will Wade left for LSU.
His addition helped Keatts fill a need of guards after one-time Wolfpack recruit Thomas Allen was released from his letter of intent and Terry Henderson was denied a medical hardship by the NCAA. Three months later, State added another point guard, Braxton Beverly, to its roster.
Batts played a total of only 23 minutes in the Wolfpack’s final seven games in 2017-18.
With both Beverly and fellow starter Markell Johnson returning, and transfers C.J. Bryce, Devon Daniels and Blake Harris becoming eligible after sitting out last season, Batts likely saw himself as the odd man out of a now-crowded backcourt rotation.
He has not given an indication as to where he might transfer.
Here is the list of state players that have either declared for the draft or announced their decision to transfer:
DRAFT
Marvin Bagley III, Duke
Trevon Duval, Duke
Gary Trent, Jr., Duke
Wendell Carter, Jr., Duke
Doral Moore, Wake Forest
Bryant Crawford, Wake Forest*
Chris Clemons, Campbell*
Jerome Robinson (Raleigh), Boston College
Ky Bowman (Havelock), Boston College*
*–has not hired an agent
TRANSFER
Omer Yurtseven, NC State (to Georgetown)
Lavar Batts Jr., NC State
Shaun Kirk, NC State (to UNC Pembroke)
Spencer Newman, NC State
Darius Hicks, NC State (to Eastern Kentucky)
Keyshawn Woods, Wake Forest (to Ohio State)
Donovan Mitchell, Wake Forest
Rich Washington, Wake Forest
Sam Japhet-Mathias, Wake Forest (to San Jose State)
Jalek Felton, UNC
Jordan Tucker, Duke (to Butler)
Raquan Wilkins, ECU
JaQuel Richmond, UNCW
MaCio Teague, UNCA (to Baylor)
Zach Cottrell, Appalachian State
Marcus Burk, Campbell (to UIPUI)
Damontez Oliver, Campbell
Wyatt Self, Campbell
Andre Fox, High Point
Luke Vargo, High Point
Jamal Wright, High Point
Brandon Goldsmith, NC Central
Alston Jones, NC Central
Alex Mills, NC Central
C.J. Wiggins, NC Central
Kwei Lartney, NC A&T
Femi Olujobi, NC A&T (to DePaul)
Raymon Pratt, NC A&T
